News for December 30,
2000

Virenque given 9 month ban

The Swiss Cycling Federation (SRB) have handed French cyclist Richard
Virenque a nine month suspension and a 4000 Swiss franc ($US 2500) fine
for confessing to drug use during the 'Festina trial'. The decision
that was announced in Bern today means that Virenque will miss the entire
2001 season, placing his future career in doubt. The ban will commence
on February 1, in accordance with UCI rules.

One week ago, Virenque was cleared by the court in Lille of helping
to organise doping within the Festina team. Despite his confession,
this was expected within the context of the trial. However, he faced
a likely six to twelve month ban from the UCI/Swiss Federation, as a
confession is treated the same as a positive test.

The ban could mean the end of the 31 year old's career, as he has
no team at the moment after Polti folded at the end of this year. His
lawyer, Vincent Speder said that he was "completely destroyed by the
decision. At 31 a sentence like this probably means the end of his career.
He will not retire immediately as he has a lot of questions to pose
over the severity of the suspension."

"It should be noted that those who speak up are sanctioned and all
the others, because the Festina lawsuit made it possible to show that
everyone was doped, are keeping silent. And this forces them to continue
to keep silent. Thus doping goes on," said Mr Speder.

"Today's sanction made me think of past times where the rider was
the only person in charge. It resembles a logic of elimination. Richard
will not be able to race in 2001 and will therefore not be able to find
a team. However, without any competitions in 2001 it will be difficult
to find a team in 2002. One must wonder whether this sanction will take
Richard Virenque out of professional cycling," he added.

Virenque's manager Eric Boyer also said that he will not be giving
up the sport, and would appeal the decision in the Court of Arbitration
for Sport (TAS) in Lausanne. Virenque has 21 days in which to lodge
his appeal.

However on French radio station, France Info, Virenque was emotional:
"I don't understand it. This is the end of my career. I don't have a
team, I have no chance anymore and I don't have the power to come back.
This will destroy my career."

The Swiss panel was chaired by Bernhard Welten, and included a lawyer
(Benvenuto Savoldelli), a doctor (Rolf Walser), and a trainer (Jean-Marc
Morand).

Baal:
suspension is 'logical'

Although several his Festina colleagues only received six to seven
month bans after they confessed in 1998, Richard Virenque was given
a more severe penalty by the SRB. Retiring French Cycling Federation
president, Daniel Baal commented that Virenque's nine month suspension
was "logical" and "not unjust".

"It is not particularly severe and was exactly the median of the UCI
penalty (6 - 12 months)," said Baal. "The commission no doubt wanted
to take the late confession into account."

According to the Swiss Federation, the five member commission chaired
by Bernhard Welten took this time period into account. In addition to
his 4000 Swiss franc fine, Virenque will also have to pay 2000 francs
in legal fees.

The FFC also have to decide what to do with Pascal Hervé, Virenque's
teammate who also confessed to doping during the trial. In 1998-1999,
Hervé served a voluntary suspension "in solidarity" with his teammates,
but did not receive an official penalty. The FFC have not yet said whether
they will sanction him now or not.

Beloki
to ONCE?

In the latest instalment of one of the late season's longest running
soap operas, Joseba Beloki and Festina have reached an agreement in
which the Spaniard will pay between 60 and 70 million pesetas ($US 340-400,000)
to be released from his contract for 2001. Beloki has been trying to
negotiate a departure from Festina for some months, despite claiming
he has excellent relationships with team manager Juan Fernandez and
the other riders.

However, Beloki, who said earlier this month that he wanted to leave
Festina for career reasons has yet to actually pay
the money and cut himself loose from Festina. Until he does he can't
formally sign with another team. He is believed to be very close to
signing with ONCE and has also been linked to Banesto. The two are vying
for his services in 2001, and ONCE currently looks favourite.

Beloki was originally offered a five-year, 600 million peseta deal
with Festina but backed out of that saying he didn't want to sign with
the Dutch intermediary company, Stichting Omnisport, that Festina created
to deal with its team. He eventually signed a one year contract, changed
his mind again and was told by the UCI he had to fulfil the one year
deal.

Sevilla
signs for three years

Oscar Sevilla (24) has renewed his contract with Kelme for three years.
He is one of the biggest young talents in Spain and a lot of teams were
interested in him this year. He rode a good Vuelta, which was won by
his teammate Roberto Heras. However, he missed the World Championships
after excessive amounts of caffeine were found in his urine after a
drug test.

Joane Somarriba awarded

Joane Somarriba of Alfa Lum has been voted Bizkaia's sportsperson
of the year by an overwhelming majority in recognition of her wins in
the Tour and Giro this year. The award was presented by the vizcayan
sporting press, and the competition included many Olympic and Paralympic
athletes.

Winner of stage 10 in the Tour de France, Javier Oxtoa, won the prize
for the athlete with the most potential. The team prize went to the
Euskaltel-Euskadi team, who won 15 races in 2000 and finished at the
top of the second division.

Mattan
and Planckaert stay in Spain

Belgians Nico Mattan and Jo Planckaert are not allowed to start in
the Belgian National Cyclocross Championships in Mol next month. This
comes from their Cofidis team manager, Alain Bondue, who is organising
a training camp in Spain at that time and will not allow them a break.

Farm
Frites-Hartol signs three from RWC Ahoy

Farm Frites-Hartol have added three junior "guest riders" to their
roster from Rotterdam club, RWC Ahoy. Vera Koedooder, Christa Pirard
and Suzanne de Goede will ride in certain races in 2001 under team leader,
Michael Zijlaard.

All three riders are between 16-17 years old, and have been quite
successful in the junior ranks. Vera Koedooder is the Dutch national
junior women's time trial champion, and has won 16 races. Suzanne de
Goede is extremely versatile, winning races on the road, track and cyclocross.
She is the Dutch junior women's champion in the sprint, 500m TT and
pursuit.